7 Films That Make Interesting Points On Society
Joe Goldberg wasn't the first handsome creep.
If a film is insightful enough to kick off thought provoking discussions then it's certainly worth viewing more than once.
Often in modern cinema, we as an audience are spoon fed metaphors and sequences that make a comparative statement about a political or social argument with such obvious undertones that they can sometimes weaken the overall point, and even spoil the whole movie.
To capture the zeitgeist of the day and hold a mirror to (at least) the 21st Century, a film has to bury its true point within the subject matter and plot of the film. Satire or commentary can make a film feel dated, and there's nothing worse than watching a film from less than a decade ago and pointing out the glaring ideas that went through a filmmaker's mind at the time.
Of course, this could also just be coincidental; a film's plot that centers around a particular aspect of modern day doesn't mean the film is preaching or trying to make a point. But it can mean that the influence of a movie harbors more than just a simple idea. Someone wrote a script, filmed a shot or acted out a scene with a message in mind. And whether we understand it on the first viewing or the fifth, it's good to know the discussion topic got through.
In any case, let's take a look at seven films that hid within them a message about the modern world.
7. Shrek - Body Shaming And Self Acceptance
To say the meta fairy-tale comedy Shrek is a deep movie might be a reach, but behind all the pop culture jokes there is a sweet message that secretly taught a valuable lesson to kids back in 2001.
Skipping past the plot, Shrek taught us to not just to be self accepting of our own physical appearance, but to also accept others for theirs too.
Throughout the film, Shrek is looked upon as a monster and therefore lives in isolation and pushes away anyone who wants to be close to him. Princess Fiona is beautiful in public, but feels ugly behind closed doors. Lord Farquaad is a comically short man who makes up for his insecurity by flaunting power and status, Even Donkey's introduction involves him hiding his ability to speak.
In the end, Fiona's true form as an ogre makes her feel insecure, but Shrek assures her she is beautiful either way. Shrek is accepted (to a hilarious extent) by the woodland and fairy-tale creatures, and even Donkey looks beyond the ravaging scary dragon and develops a romance with her.
It's only the shallow and evil Lord Farquaad who meets his doom for not accepting people for who they are. Deservedly so.